5G Standalone - which devices and UK networks are using it? (2024)

5G Standalone - which devices and UK networks are using it? (1)

Contents list

  1. Which UK networks have launched 5G Standalone?
    1. Vodafone
    2. O2
    3. Three and EE
  2. Which devices support 5G Standalone?

5G Standalone is the next big evolution in mobile network technology, and really it’s what we were promised with 5G.

Because this is true, standalone 5G, rather than relying in part on 4G infrastructure as all the UK’s 5G networks did at launch – and as many still do.

It’s a technology that EE, Three, Vodafone and O2 all promise to deliver, but right now only Vodafone and O2 actually are delivering it, and only in select locations.

So below, we’ll take a look at 5G Standalone on both Vodafone and O2, as well as detailing the devices that support 5G Standalone. But if you’re still not sure what 5G Standalone is, head to our what is a 5G Standalone network guide first.

Which UK networks have launched 5G Standalone?

Vodafone

Vodafone was the first UK network to launch 5G Standalone, but it doesn’t call its network upgrade that. Instead, Vodafone markets this as 5G Ultra.

It claims that with 5G Ultra, one million more UK customers will be able to connect to its 5G network, and that your phone’s battery will last up to 25% longer – or for up to three additional hours.

It also touts higher 5G speeds, which should be up to 10 times faster than 4G. It doesn’t give a specific figure but does claim that its 4G network offers average speeds of 23-35Mbps, so if we take the middle figure there (29Mbps) then 10 times that is 290Mbps.

Vodafone claims its standard (non-standalone) 5G offers average speeds of 150-200Mbps, so that would make its 5G Ultra network substantially speedier.

Finally, Vodafone claims that 5G Ultra will ensure you can make calls and use data even in busy places, such as station platforms, stadiums, and festivals, whereas previous network technologies could sometimes struggle with the congestion in those sorts of places.

These are all among the standard benefits of 5G Standalone regardless of what network you’re using it on, but they’re definitely beneficial.

If you want 5G Ultra on Vodafone you’ll currently need to be a Pay Monthly customer, as it’s not yet available on Pay As You Go. You’ll also need to have purchased or upgraded to a new Pay Monthly plan from the 24th of February 2023 onwards, and Vodafone will notify you by text when you’re given access to its 5G Ultra network.

This access will come at no extra cost, but currently 5G Ultra isn’t available across Vodafone’s whole 5G network. Rather, you can get it in parts of London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Cardiff, among other places. Check your post code in Vodafone’s coverage checker to see if there’s coverage near you. If there’s not currently, there likely will be eventually, because Vodafone is working to expand its 5G Ultra coverage.

You’ll also need a compatible phone – head to the devices section further down for details of these.

O2

O2 launched 5G Standalone after Vodafone but before Three or EE (both of which at the time of writing don’t yet offer 5G Standalone).

The network makes similar claims about its 5G Standalone service as Vodafone, saying that it offers higher bandwidth and lower latency connections, allowing for greater reliability, a massive increase in the number of connected devices, and wider 5G coverage.

O2 also highlights new use cases that 5G Standalone can unlock, such as remote healthcare, fully robotic factories, autonomous transport, network slicing, and advanced robotics.

5G Standalone is available to all O2 customers with a compatible device and SIM card at no extra cost, and the initial roll out has covered parts of Manchester, Liverpool, London, Lincoln, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, York, Belfast, Cardiff, Nottingham, and Slough. But the network promises to continue rolling out 5G Standalone to more towns and cities throughout the rest of 2024 and beyond.

Your phone will seamlessly switch between 5G Standalone, 5G Non-Standalone, and 4G coverage according to what’s available where you are.

What about Three and EE?

Neither Three nor EE offer 5G Standalone at the time of writing, but EE has suggested it will switch the service on before the end of 2024, so we might see 5G Standalone on EE soon.

Three meanwhile hasn’t said much of anything about 5G Standalone yet, so while we’re sure the network will be working on it, we’re not optimistic that it will launch before 2025.

Which devices support 5G Standalone?

Different networks support different devices with 5G Standalone. Vodafone for its part lets you access 5G Standalone when using any of the following phones:

TheSamsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, S23 Ultra, Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, S22 Ultra, Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Fold 5,Google Pixel 8,Pixel 8 Pro,Pixel 8a,Oppo Find X5 Pro, and Oppo Find X3 Pro.

On O2, you can currently get 5G Standalone working with:

The Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus,Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, S23 Ultra, S23 FE, Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, S22 Ultra, Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy A34 5G, A54 5G, A25, Sony Xperia 1 V, Sony Xperia 5 V, and Netgear Nighthawk M6.

These are the most up to date lists we’re aware of at the time of writing, but in theory most recent 5G phones should work with 5G Standalone, they just might require a software update to do so – so hopefully O2 and Vodafone will start supporting it on a lot more phones soon.

5G Standalone - which devices and UK networks are using it? (2024)

FAQs

5G Standalone - which devices and UK networks are using it? ›

The major UK network providers, EE, Three, Vodafone, O2, offer 5G coverage in the UK already. EE has the fastest 5G mobile network in the UK, while Three is outperforming the network only in some cities.

Which operators are 5G in the UK? ›

The major UK network providers, EE, Three, Vodafone, O2, offer 5G coverage in the UK already. EE has the fastest 5G mobile network in the UK, while Three is outperforming the network only in some cities.

What is use 5G standalone network? ›

5G Standalone takes 5G performance to new heights, bringing new capabilities that deliver a more powerful user experience, enhanced network efficiency, and a world of new business opportunities. Unlike 5G Non-Standalone networks, 5G Standalone is based exclusively on cloud-native 5G Core and 5G Radio architecture.

Is UK 5G stand alone? ›

When will other networks offer 5G Standalone? EE is likely to be the next UK network to offer 5G standalone, suggesting back in March 2024 that the roll out could start before the end of 2024. However, we haven't heard any updates since then, so it remains to be seen whether that will still happen.

How many 5G standalone networks are there? ›

As of the third quarter of 2023, 121 mobile network operators worldwide were investing in 5G standalone (5G SA) infrastructure for public networks, up from 115 the previous year. 5G SA networks are those which do not rely on existing 4G infrastructure to function.

Which phones are 5G in the UK? ›

5G phones
  • Offer. Apple. Apple iPhone 12. From £24.99. ...
  • Last chance. Samsung. Samsung Galaxy S22. £22.49. ...
  • Apple. Apple iPhone SE. £24.99. ...
  • Last chance. Samsung. Samsung Galaxy S23. ...
  • Last chance. Google. Google Pixel 8. ...
  • Samsung. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G. £52.99. ...
  • Offer. Apple. Apple iPhone 15 with Apple Watch Series 9. ...
  • Offer. Google. Pixel 8a.

Who is installing 5G in UK? ›

5G is primarily being rolled-out by private companies called mobile network operators. These are EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. The first commercial networks went live in major UK cities in 2019.

Which carrier has 5G standalone? ›

T-Mobile launched its 5G standalone network in 2021 to improve the coverage of its low-band 600MHz network. It also is helping T-Mobile open more business accounts. AT&T is starting to move its customers to its 5G (SA) network.

What is the difference between 5G standalone and NSA? ›

Ultimately, the biggest difference between NSA and SA is how each mode provides 5G. NSA uses a 5G RAN, as well as a 4G LTE core, while SA is an end-to-end 5G network with both a 5G RAN and NR core.

Which iPhones support 5G standalone? ›

iPhone 12 models or later work with the 5G cellular networks of certain carriers. Learn how to use 5G cellular service.

Is 5G SA or NSA in the UK? ›

5G is likely to be the networking technology that supports the Internet of Things in the future, due to its low latency and capacity to support many devices at one time. At present, almost all 5G in the UK is delivered using non-standalone (NSA) technology.

What is 5G coverage like in the UK? ›

Vodafone 5G Coverage Map

At the latest count 128 towns and cities across UK currently have access to 5G through the Vodafone network, with other G levels covering 99% of the population.

Who brought 5G to UK? ›

EE brought the first 4G network to the UK in October 2012, and launched the UK's first 5G network in May 2019.

Does standalone 5G need a new SIM card? ›

In most cases, you won't necessarily need a new SIM card to access 5G services — the majority of modern SIM cards and eSIMs, including those designed for 4G/LTE, are forward compatible with the newer 5G technology.

Does AT&T have 5G standalone? ›

Many of the newest mobile devices are ready for 5G standalone, and we continue to move thousands of customers every day. We also recently launched AT&T Internet Air home fixed wireless service, and from the start, this product rides on standalone 5G.

Does Verizon have stand alone 5G? ›

Regardless, Verizon now appears to be roughly three years behind its initial standalone 5G rollout plans. In the summer of 2020, Verizon said it would begin moving traffic onto its standalone 5G core "in the second half of 2020 with full commercialization in 2021."

Who are the 5G suppliers in the UK? ›

  • EE. O2. Three. Vodafone. Other Networks. Asda Mobile. CMLink.
  • EE. O2. Three. Vodafone. Other Networks.
  • Other Networks.
  • 5G pay as you go SIM cards. 5G Frequencies in the UK.

Is 5G available everywhere in UK? ›

We've now got 5G in all major cities across the UK and have recently rolled out 5G in a further 19 locations. So you'll automatically connect if you're in an area with 5G and have a 5G SIM.

How many 5G base stations are there in the UK? ›

The number of mobile base stations providing 5G services more than doubled last year — from 3,000 sites in 2020 to over 6,500 sites in 2021.

What 5G band is supported in the UK? ›

The current deployments for 5G in the UK and much of the world have been using the 3.4-3.6 GHz sub-part of the mid-band spectrum, or more recently up to 3.68 GHz in the UK including the 3.605-3.68 GHz spectrum of Three UK (extended downwards to 3.6 GHz recently by Ofcom, permitting Three to use a contiguous 100 MHz at ...

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